Politics of Fear – The Trump Approach

If the Democrats secure either the House of Representatives or the Senate during the midterm elections, they could assert themselves more aggressively on the foreign policy issues that have defined much of Trump’s presidency – from trade wars, backing out of climate change agreements, sanctions and withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal etc.

If the Republicans hang onto power, Trumpism may triumph.

There is a chasm in public opinion in the US; Democrats are embarrassed by Trump his White House internationally, while many Republicans view Trump as having restored America’s standing in the world.

Voters are talking about immigration, healthcare, gun control, the Supreme Court and the economy, with variances on each side of the political divide.

The international issues that are really starting to hit home are the trade policies that affect American farmers and a group “caravan” of migrants slowly making their way toward the US border.

The President is now focused on immigration and is claiming that the US is about to be “invaded” by Central American migrants, whilst suggesting there could be “middle-easteners”. He’s deployed more troops to the border than there currently are in Iraq. And he’s released an inflammatory ad conflating a convicted Mexican cop killer, Luis Bracamontes with the migrants.

Trump is using the politics of fear. The use of fear to push for votes is an often-trod strategy that you can see across the world, such as in the recent election of Brazilian president-elect Bolsonaro and the UK’s exit from Europe, Brexit.

Even more astounding is the violence that has happened prior to the US midterm elections, including last weeks’ attempted pipe bomb attacks on leading Democratic leaders and supporters and the attack on a synagogue.

Trump’s misinformation campaign continues. Trump has said he could change the Constitution to stop babies born in the US to non-citizen parents from getting citizenship by presidential order.

When the election results are finalized, the fear-mongering and discord will only start up again, with renewed vigor, as President Trump prepares to campaign as the 2020 presidential election approaches.